This Book is Not for Everyone March 26, 2010
Posted by bookgoddess in Book Clubs, Books, Fiction, Literature, Mysteries, Public libraries, readers, Reading, West Palm Beach Public Library.Tags: Barbara Pym, Clyde Edgerton, Death Comes for the Archbishop, Excellent Women, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Lisa Lutz, Nelson DeMille, Peter Robinson, Raney, The Gold Coast, The Spellman Files, Willa Cather, Winnie-the-Pooh
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It’s a great joy when you recommend a book to someone, and they just adore it. Recently I recommended the wonderful British mystery writer, Peter Robinson, to a long time patron. When she stopped by yesterday, she thanked me and was looking forward to reading more of his books.
However, it can be deflating when you love a book and the person you recommend it to does not share your enthusiasm. I have had book clubs disappointed with two of my all time favorites, Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather and Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. My friend Peggie was lukewarm about another favorite, Raney by Clyde Edgerton, though she truly loved my recommendation of The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. And my supervisor, a former children’s librarian and outstanding human being, inexplicably does not like Winnie-the-Pooh.
It happens with me, too. I finally gave up on the immensely popular and critically acclaimed Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, mostly because I found parts of it too brutal for my taste. And both the aforementioned Peggie and another friend, Joanne, highly recommended The Gold Coast by Nelson DeMille. I just bogged down and stopped listening to the audiobook. I’m not really sure why.
Please keep on recommending books, because when it goes right, you make a truly fabulous connection. Just remember that we may not love the same books. But in the library, the good part is that the price is right and we have no problem when you bring the item in for a return or exchange!
Happy Reading,
The Book Goddess
Favorite Books to Recommend May 14, 2009
Posted by bookgoddess in Audiobooks, Books, Fiction, Literature, readers, Reading, Reading lists.Tags: A Spot of Bother, Alan Bennett, Azar Nafisi, Barbara Kingsolver, Clyde Edgerton, Confederacy of Dunces, Death Comes for the Archbishop, Empire Falls, How to Be Good, Jeannette Walls, John Kennedy Toole, Mark Haddon, Nick Hornby, Raney, Reading Lolita in Tehran, recommending books, Richard Russo, The Glass Castle, The Poisonwood Bible, The Uncommon Reader, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, Willa Cather
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Recommending books is my business, or at least part of my business, and it can be a wonderful thing. The right book at the right time is a real gift. My friend Tim told me that Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole changed his life. That book, like Tim, is one of a kind, and on that occasion I got it exactly right.
Sometimes it doesn’t go so well. Another favorite book of mine is Raney by Clyde Edgerton, which I think is funny and charming and very well-written. I was delighted to recommend it to my friend Peggie, but it left her cold. Oh, well.
Anyway, I was recently asked for book recommendations by two friends. I’ve decided to give both of them, and you, pretty much the same list. I happen to think these are wonderful choices that would appeal to most book lovers.
So – here are my choices, starting with some fine American novels:
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (especially good in audio)
If you like humorous fiction (and I realize this can be very subjective, even more so than literary merit), these are some terrific titles:
How to Be Good by Nick Hornby
A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon (audio version is excellent)
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
And, some excellent nonfiction:
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
I would love to have your recommendations, too!
Happy Reading,
The Book Goddess
The Book Goddess 